Foot exerciser



United States Patent Samuel N. Small 920 Val Park Ave., Valley Stream, New York 11580;

Harry S. Goldsmith, 430 E. 67th St., New York, New York 10017 Appl. No. 622,947

Filed March 14, I967 Patented Sept. 1, 1970 lnventors FOOT EXERCISER 9 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl 128/25, 272/57 Int. Cl A6lh l/00 Field ol'Search l28/25,48,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,295,847 l/l967 Matt 272/83 3,301,553 l/l 967 Brakeman 128/25 3,370,584 2/l968 Girten l28/25 Primary ExaminerL. W. Trapp Attorney- Howard E. Thompson, .Ir.

ABSTRACT: A foot exercising device having foot holders or pedals pivotably secured within a housing, the pivotal axis of the pedals being in substantial alignment with the natural pivot point of the ankles of an individuals feet. The device is further provided with means for positively driving the pedals in a passive phase, means for terminating the positive drive so that the pedals can be actuated by the patient in an active phase. and means for automatically timing the passive phase.

FOOT EXERCISER This invention relates to a foot exercising device or apparatus, similar to that disclosed in a companion application filed of equal date herewith, and for use in hospital and posthospital care for stimulating the flow of blood through the body of a patient. More particularly, the invention deals with a device of the character defined employing foot holders or pedals so pivoted within the housing of the device as to locate such pivots substantially in alinement with the natural pivot point of the ankles of the feet. Further, the invention deals with a device of the character defined, wherein the pedals operate snugly within the housing and means being employed for the positive drive of the pedals in a passive phase and, wherein, this drive can be terminated and the pedals actuated by the patient in an active phase of operation which, for purposes of description, can be termed a manual operation.

Still more particularly, the invention deals with a device of the character defined, wherein counters are employed for recording each cycle of operation of the pedals in both the passive phase and the active phase in providing the physician or attending nurse with a definite recording of treatment which has taken place by the patient in any designated period of use.

Still further, this application deals with a modified form of drive in the passive phase of operation of the device.

The novel features of the invention will be best understood from the following description, when taken together with the accompanying drawing, in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosed and, in which, the separate parts are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views and, in which:

FIG. I is a diagrammatic sectional view through a device made according to our invention, the section being substantially on the line 1-1 of FIG. 2 and omitting part of the background showing;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the device, as seen in FIG. 1, with parts of the construction broken away and in section and parts shown in elevation;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic section substantially on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2 with parts of the construction broken away and parts shown in elevation;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail face view of a segment pedal drive wheel, illustrating the attachment of the operating strand therewith; and

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic view of the circuit controlling operation of the device.

In illustrating one adaptation and use of our invention, we employ a casing or housing comprising a top wall II, a bottom wall 12, back wall 13, primary side walls I4, supplemental side or partition walls 15, the walls 14 and 15 being joined at the front in front wall portions 16, note FIG. 2. Substantially centrally of the housing are spaced parallel partition walls 17 which join the walls 15 inwardly of the back wall 13 in curved wall portions 18, one of which is shown in section in FIG. I. The walls 18 terminate well above the bottom wall 12 and the partition .walls 17, for the most part, also terminate above the bottom wall 12, except at the front of the housing or, in other words, adjacent the central front wall portion 19, note FIG. 2.

Considering FIG. I of the drawing, it will appear that the top wall 11 is materially shorter than the bottom wall 12 and the front walls 16 and 19 join the top wall 11 in angular or inclined wall portions 20, one of which is clearly shown in section in FIG. 3 ofthe drawing.

The pairs of walls l5, 17, in combination with the curved walls 18, form, at side portions of the housing, what might be termed left and right compartments 21 and 22, in which left and right foot holders or pedals 23 and 24 operate.

The spacing of the pairs of side walls l4, 15 may be said to form at sides of the housing chambers 26 and 27. In completing the description of the housing, it will be understood that the various parts are welded or soldered, particularly if the various walls are composed of metal.

As both foot holders or pedals are of the same general construction, it will be understood that the brief description of the pedal 23 will be applicable to the pedal 24 and like references will be applied to both identical parts.

The pedals comprise a bottom foot supporting wall 28, side walls 29, generally of the contour clearly seen on the pedal 23 in FIG. 1 of the drawing. At 30 is shown a front or toe wall of the pedal and at the rear of the pedal are arranged a plurality of flexible straps 31, against which the heel of the foot is adapted to rest.

The pedals 23 and 24 are pivoted about a common axis 32 which, in the construction shown, is in the form of separate pivot rods mounted in suitable bearings 33 mounted on the walls 15 and 17, respectively, as best seen in FIG. 2 of the drawing. The axis 32 of the pedals is located substantially in alinement with the normal pivot point of the ankle of the foot as the foot is positioned in each of the holders or pedals 23 and 24. In the diagrammatic showing of FIG. 1, the pedal 23 is shown in full lines in its substantially fully depressed position; whereas, when the pedals are in their fully raised position, they would assume the dot-dash position as shown in FIG. 1. The dotted position of the pedal 24 in FIG. 1 illustrates its relationship with respect to the pedal 23, with the drive link 34 in the position shown in FIG. 1. This link is pivoted to an oscillating drive element or wheel 35 suitably supported in the housing and also pivoted to the crank 36 of an electric motor 37, as clearly seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawing. It will be understood that each pedal is fixed to its independent axis 32.

Fixed by means of a suitable clamp 38, FIG. 1, on the periphery of the wheel 35 is an operating flexible member or strand 39, the ends of which are clamped to the flat surface 40 ofa segment drive wheel 41 by means of a clamp 42, as clearly noted in FIG. 4 of the drawing. The wheel 41 is fixed to each axis 32.

As each of the wheels 41 are of the same construction, the brief description of one wheel will apply to the other and these wheels are arranged with the flanges 43 adjacent each other, as clearly seen in FIG. 2. The flanges serve to maintain the positioning of the strand 39 in the oscillatory movement of the wheel 35. It will be apparent that one of the segment drive wheels actuates the pedal 23 and the other actuates the pedal m 24, as will appear from a consideration of FIG. 2 of the drawmg.

Secured to the lower inner corner of each of the pedals is a spring 44, each spring being coupled with an adjustable screw 45, note FIG. 2, and these springs provide definite tension on the pedals at all times, so as to maintain the strand 39 taut. From this, it will appear that, in one directional movement of each pedal, the pedal is positively actuated by the strand 39; whereas, in the opposed direction, the pedal is actuated by the spring 44.

Supported on the bottom wall 12 of the housing is a microswitch 46, including a hook-shaped switch operating arm 47 actuated by the crank 36 in each revolution of the motor for electrically operating an impulse counter 48 illustrated at the left of FIG. 2. Another manually operated counter 49 is also shown at the right of FIG. 2 and this is also shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 of the drawing. The latter counter includes an actuating lever 50, note FIG. 3, coupled with a rod 51 through the medium of a spring 52, the rod 51 being pivoted to the side wall 29 of the pedal 24, as seen at 53, FIG. 3. This rod 51 is not illustrated in FIG. 2, but it will be positioned between the wall 29 of the pedal 24 and the adjacent partition wall 15. It will be understood that the wall 18 of the compartment 22 will be apertured for free movement of the spring 52 therein in the swinging movement of the pedal. This is not illustrated in FIG. 3, but will be apparent to one skilled in the art.

Suitable handgrips or handles can be employed on each of the side walls 14 of the housing and one of these has been illustrated in dotted lines at 54 in FIG. 1. However, a single carrying handle could be provided on the top wall 11, if desired.

Considering FIG. 3 of the drawing, arranged on the motor shaft within the chamber 27 is a disc 55 operatingupon a friction pad 56 supported upon the upper surface of an arm 57 pivoted, as seen at 58, the free end of the arm being freely mounted on a vertical rod 59 supported in the chamber 27 and rotatably mounted in the top wall 11. Fixed to the protruding end of the rod 59 is a knob 60, having an indicator finger 61 registering with a dial plate 62 supported on the top wall 11.

The lower end of the rod 59 is in threaded engagement with a nut 63 having a flat surface engaging the wall within the chamber 27 to prevent rotation of said nut. Between the nut 63 and the end of the arm 57 is arranged a coilspring 64 controlling pressure engagement of the friction pad 56 with the disc 55 in regulating the resistance of the motor shaft in the manual operation of the pedals, as and when circuit to the motor 37 has been cut off in what is termed the active phase drive of the pedals by the patient and recorded by the counter 49. The tension of the coilspring 64 can be increased or decreased by rotation of the knob 63 to suit the patient performing this manual operation of the exerciser.

In this manual operation by the patient, the action is not only against the friction upon the electric motor, but also upon the coilsprings 44 which, at all times, maintain tension upon the strand 39 in actuation of the pedals.

Considering FIG. 1 of the drawing, we have diagrammatically shown at 65 the entrance of a circuit wire from a suitable source into the housing, in which wire will be located a manually operable switch 66 suitably located with respect to the housing. In the diagrammatic showing ofthe wiring in FIG. 5, the switch 66 has been located and 65 represents the two circuit wires for admission to the housing.

Mounted on the top wall 11 of the housing is a manually settable automatically actuated timer 67, with its indicator finger 68. This timer is set by the physician or attending nurse to any desired period of time from zero to sixty minutes. The timer is normally in open circuit position when set at zero, as noted in FIG. 5, but, when set at a definite time period, the circuit through the wire 69 in which the timer is located will be completed or closed. At 70, FIG. 1, is shown a relay suitably mounted in the compartment housing. This relay includes a relay coil 70', FIG. 5, and a relay switch or contact 70" completing a circuit to the microswitch 46. At 71 is shown a circuit wire coupled with the circuit wire 72 extending to the motor 37, which wire 71 is normally closed to the circuit controlled by 70" through the microswitch 46.

Coupled with the other circuit wire 65 leading to the motor 37 is the impulse counter 48, having a wire 73 extending to the microswitch 46, but normally in open circuit. However, the circuit to the wire 73, in actuating the impulse counter 41, is completed upon depressing the switch operating arm 47 in each revolution ofthe crank 36.

The physician or nurse will first set the timer 67, with the indicator 68 positioned at the time period desired. By way of iilustration, let us assume that 68 is set to the right at 90 from the zero setting, which would represent a fifteen minute period. This now closes the circuit through wires 69 and 72. Then, upon closing the manually operated switch 66, the circuitwill be completed to the motor 37, the relay 70', thus closing the circuit through the switch 70". With the circuit in this position, each revolution of the motor will cause one actuation ofthe impulse counter 48 for the required recording in the device and this continues until the timer 67 returns to zero at the completion of the fifteen minute period, which automatically breaks thecircuit to the motor, the microswitch 46 and impulse counter 41.

However, in this breaking of the circuit, a time period will be provided for final stoppage of motor operation with the pedals 23 and 24, preferably in alinement with each other. Controls of this type and kind are known in the art similar to the turning offofa windshield wiper on an automobile to bring the wipers to the final fixed stop position.

If the physician has prescribed a continued manual or active phase operation of the pedals for a predetermined number of cycles indicated by the counter 49, this operation will be performed by the patient and, here, the counter 49 only will be actuated. This action is under the control of the frictional setting of the disc 55 on the friction pad 56, as previously pointed out. In connection with the foregoing, it will be apparent that the impulse counter 48 will always give notice to the physician that the full period of passive operation has been completed.

Considering FIGS. 1 and 3 of the drawing, it will be apparent that the counters face forwardly and will be clearly visible to the patient and it is preferred that these counters have on their exposed faces magnifying lenses, as indicated at 74, FIGS. 1 and 3, so that the numerals of the counters will be clearly readable.

By fully housing the pedals and keeping the pedals in the close environment within the compartments 21 and 22, there is no danger of entangling the pedals with bed clothing or the like in the operation of the devices, even though the bed covering could substantially cover the complete housing, except from the standpoint of leaving the counters visible as and when the active phase of operation of the device is being performed; whereas, in the passive phase of operation of the device, bed covering could fully envelop the housing, keeping in mind that the timer will automatically control this particular operation of the device.

It will be apparent from the showing of FIG. 2 of the drawing that each of the counters have exposed manually operative knobs for re-setting the counters after any one series of operations of the device, so that, in each use of the device, the counters will be set at zero.

In the reciprocation of the pedals by the patient, the braking means applied to the motor shaft, as at 55, 56, offers the resistance to this manual operation and, by reason of the adjustment of the frictional pressure, the same can care for the condition of the patient, in other words, the patients ability to reciprocate the pedals.

We claim:

I. A foot exerciser device comprising a pair of pedals mounted side by side on an axis, drive means in operative engagement with each of the pedals for alternately reciprocating said pedals on said axis in the operation ofthe device, foot engaging support means for supporting a foot of a patient in each pedal, a manually adjustable timer and electrical switch means for automatically rendering a measured passive phase of operation of the device and providing for an active phase of operation of said pedals by the patient using the exerciser device when said passive phase is rendered inoperative.

2. A device as defined in claim I, wherein said drive means comprises an electric motor.

3. An exerciser device of the character defined comprising a housing having spaced compartments therein opening through the front of the housing, sides ofthe housing having chambers, a pedal mounted in each compartment and pivotally supported in the housing for movement in said compartments, an electric motor mounted in the housing, means placing said motor in operative engagement with said pedals in one directional drive of the pedals, tensional means coupled with the housing and with the pedals for driving the pedals in the opposite direction, a counter mounted in the housing and exposed therethrough, an automatically operated and manually set timer mounted on the housing, a switch mounted in the housing adjacent said motor, said motor, timer and switch being in an electric circuit, said first named means including a part actuating said switch in each revolution of said first named means in operation of the device, a manually actuated switch controlling said circuit, and said timer, when in unset position, normally breaking thecircuit to said motor.

4. A device as defined in claim 3, wherein said first named means comprises a crank driven by the motor, an element pivoted in the housing, a link coupling the crank with said element to oscillate said element, flexible members fixed to the element and in operative engagement with said pedals, and means adjustably coupling the tensional means of each pedal with said housing.

5. A device as defined in claim 4, wherein the motor and tensional means of said pedals comprise a passive phase of operation, means providing an active phase of operation of the device, said last named means comprising a secondary counter, means in operative engagement with one of said pedals for actuating said secondary counter, and manually adjustable means for applying braking pressure on the electric motor in providing resistance to reciprocation of the pedals by the feet of a patient in said active phase of operation.

6. A device as defined in claim 3, wherein said pedals operate substantially in their entirety within the compartments of said housing.

7. An exerciser device of the character defined comprising a housing, a pair of pedals mounted side by side on an axis in said housing, means in operative engagement with the pedals for positively and tensionally reciprocating said pedals on said axis in the operation of the device in a passive phase, means for support of a foot of a patient in each pedal to dispose the pivot of the ankle of each foot substantially in alinement with said axis of the pedal, said first named means including a power source providing the positive reciprocation of said pedals, and said pedals being mounted in confining compartments substantially shielding the pedals in reciprocating movement thereof on said axis.

8. A device as defined in claim 7, wherein means is provided for rendering the passive phase of operation of the device inoperative, means providing an active phase of operation of said pedals by the patient using the exerciser device when said passive phase is rendered inoperative, the power source of said first named means comprising an electric motor, said motor driving a crank, a wheel pivoted in the housing, a link coupling the crank with said wheel to oscillate said wheel, a strand fixed to the wheel with ends extending to and fixed to a segment wheel in operative engagement with each of said pedals, and means adjustably coupling the tensional means of each pedal with said housing.

9. A device as defined in claim 8, wherein said third named means comprises an automatically operated and manually set timer mounted on the housing, a primary counter recording pedal operations during the passive phase, a supplemental counter controlling recording of pedal operations during the active phase, means in operative engagement with one of said pedals for actuating said supplemental counter, and manually adjustable means for applying braking pressure on the electric motor in providing resistance to reciprocation of the pedals by the feet of a patient in said active phase of operation. 

